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Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Complete List of Variations to be Tested at the NHL Research and Development Camp

The second annual NHL Research and Development Camp kicks off next Wednesday, August 17 at the MasterCard Centre in Etobicoke, Ontario with a long list of variations on the current rules to be put to the test.

The top prospects that will be eligible for the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, rumored to be in Pittsburgh, will be on the ice demonstrating the changes.

Here is the full release from the NHL of all the items to be covered during the camp...

NHL ALL-STAR SUPERSKILLS TO BE PUT TO ON-ICE TEST AT 2011 NHL RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND ORIENTATION CAMP

NEW YORK (August 9, 2011) – Events that will be part of the SuperSkills competition at NHL All-Star Weekend in January will get an early viewing for potential refinement when the top 2012 Draft-eligible prospects come together next week at the 2011 NHL Research, Development and Orientation Camp.

The second NHL RDO Camp, Aug. 17 and 18 at the MasterCard Centre for Excellence in Etobicoke, Ontario, will build off the inaugural event held last summer by again deploying many of the most talented junior-age players in the world to test potential rules changes, new strategies and rink modifications in an on-ice setting that closely approximates NHL play. While scrimmaging under the proposed rules and rink changes, more than 30 of the top prospects eligible for the 2012 NHL Draft will flash their skills for the dozens of NHL general managers and talent evaluators who will monitor the four sessions from the stands.

In addition, the prospects will get the chance to play for two of the top coaches in the League, as Dan Bylsma of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Dave Tippett of the Phoenix Coyotes run the benches.

Many innovations and rules changes that were tested last year will be given second looks. Several new concepts will be introduced at this camp – including moving face-offs following an offside into the offending team’s zone, limiting line changes at stoppages in play and removing the trapezoid that restricts goaltenders’ puck-handling.

“Last year’s camp was immensely popular with the players who attended and we learned a lot of things,” said NHL Senior Vice President of Player Safety and Hockey Operations Brendan Shanahan. “We feel that some ideas don’t need to be tested again and others need more testing.

“From the outset, we conceived of the camp with the belief that our game has never been better. And we wanted to collect information and data and learn about our game at one of its highest moments, so that, if a trend we didn’t like started to develop, we already had years of information to better prepare us for making any adjustment we need. It’s staying on top of the game and, at the same time, preserving the integrity of hockey.”

New this year will be an on-ice session devoted entirely to evaluating and perhaps fine-tuning the events that comprise the NHL All-Star Superskills competition.

“Last year, the fans were intrigued by some of the new skills and the effort to make all of the events more head-to-head,” Shanahan said, referring to the reconfigured SuperSkills

at the 2011 NHL All-Star Weekend in Raleigh, N.C..”This is just once again looking at how that is best set up and an opportunity to see what we like and how we can make it better.

“These players will go through each and every skill that was performed at the SuperSkills competition in Raleigh and give us an opportunity to present an even more entertaining show in Ottawa next January.”

Session agendas are detailed below:

Wednesday, August 17 (all times ET, subject to change)

10:00 a.m – Noon

No-touch icing

No line change for team committing an offside

Face-off variations (penalty line for center committing an infraction; all face-offs in circles; same linesman drops puck for all face-offs)

No icing permitted while shorthanded

Verification line (additional line behind the goal line)

Overtime variation (four minutes of 4-on-4 followed by three minutes of 3-on-3)

Shootout variation (5-man shootout precedes sudden-death format)

Shallow-back nets

2:30 p.m to 4:30 p.m.

After offside, face-off goes back to offending team's end

Face-off variations (both centers must come set on whistle; all face-offs in circles; same linesman drops puck for all face-offs)

Delayed penalty variation (offending team must exit zone in possession of puck to stop play)

Changes only permitted on-the-fly (except after goals and upon manpower changes)

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